Difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction in advanced cancer: association with the cachexia-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND

Swallowing disorders including difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction, result in reduced dietary intake-a common occurrence that leads to cachexia in patients with advanced cancer. This study examined the effects of swallowing difficulty and food bolus obstruction on cachexia-related quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

This study secondarily analyzed data from a self-reported questionnaire survey of adult patients with advanced cancer at 11 palliative care services. Difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction were measured using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), whereas dietary intake and cachexia-related QOL were assessed using the Ingesta-Verbal/Visual Analog Scale and the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy Anorexia/Cachexia Subscale. A multiple logistic regression model was employed to determine the factors associated with varying degrees of difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction.

RESULTS

Of the invited 495 patients, 378 agreed to participate (response rate 76.4%). After excluding participants with missing data, the data of 332 participants were analyzed; 26.5% had difficulty swallowing (NRS ≥1) and 28.3% had food bolus obstruction (NRS ≥1). Multivariate analysis revealed a substantial association between difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction and a decrease in cachexia-related QOL, regardless of performance status and the existence of cachexia. The coefficients for difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction were -6.34 [95% confidence interval (CI): -9.55 to -3.14, P<0.001] and -5.88 (95% CI: -8.68 to -3.09, P<0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Cachexia-related QOL deteriorated as difficulty swallowing and food bolus obstruction worsened; thus, healthcare providers must diagnose and treat swallowing disorders in a timely manner to prevent progression of cachexia and improve cachexia-related QOL.